What process involves the suspension of normal thinking, allowing individuals to fade into a relaxed state?

The process that involves the suspension of normal thinking and allows individuals to fade into a relaxed state is best described by hypnosis. Hypnosis is a focused state of attention where individuals may experience heightened suggestibility and relaxation. During this state, individuals can often access memories or thoughts that may not be as easily retrieved in their normal waking state, leading to a profound level of relaxation and an altered state of consciousness.

Meditation, while it does involve relaxation and an altered state of awareness, typically focuses on cultivating mindfulness, increasing self-awareness, and promoting a state of calm without the suggestibility aspect present in hypnosis. Daydreaming is more of a spontaneous form of thought that doesn’t generally involve the same level of relaxation or focused state that is characteristic of hypnosis. Sleep, although it is a deeply relaxed state, involves a loss of consciousness and different brain activity patterns compared to the focused relaxation seen in hypnosis.

Thus, hypnosis is the most fitting answer as it encapsulates the key components of a relaxed state through the suspension of normal cognitive processes.